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II. The arguments with which he enforced them

Men in general are averse to hear any thing of the terrors of the Lord-But St. Paul insisted on them in order to persuade men-And our Lord himself frequently urged them on his hearers as inducements to obedience-The arguments with which he enforced his precepts in the text are most solemn and weighty

1. God will surely deal with men hereafter according to their conduct in this life

[This truth is not merely asserted, but assumed in the text as incontrovertible and undoubted-Nor is there any truth whatever, that is more agreeable to reason, or more abundantly confirmed by the sacred oracles-And can any thing be a stronger argument for self-denial?-Surely if eternal happiness or misery must be the issue of our conduct, we should diligently consider our ways, and put away the accursed thing that would ruin our souls-If we had no future account to give of our conduct, we might say, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die”—But, if we believe the scriptures, we shall rather labour to act with a view to the future judgment-]

2. Heaven, notwithstanding all the trials we may endure in our way to it, is infinitely better than hell, whatever we may enjoy in our way thither

[It is certain that the mortification of sin is often painful like the cutting off of a member from the body-But it is no less certain that that pain is followed by much peace and joy -But supposing the road to heaven were ever so thorny, will not eternal glory be a sufficient recompence for our toil?And supposing the gratifications of sin to be without alloy (though it will be found that the delicious draught is mixed with much gall) will they not be dearly purchased with the loss of the soul?-Will not the torments of hell be greater than the pleasures of sin?-The worms that may feed upon the body will die when our flesh is consumed; and the fire that may consume our body will be extinguished at last for want of fuel-But "the worm that will gnaw our conscience will never die; nor will the fire of God's wrath be ever quenched," because we shall be preserved as food for the one and fuel for the other to all eternity-What can sin offer us that can compensate for such a doom?-Surely then this argument should induce us to mortify our most beloved lusts— Our Lord repeats it thus frequently, that it may the more deeply impress our minds-Let us then weigh it with the

f Rom. viii. 13. Gal. vi. 7, 8.

attention it deserves; and act as those who feel its force and importance-]

INFER

1. In what a lamentable state are the world at large!

[Men will persuade themselves that they are in the way to heaven, even while they are neglecting many duties, and committing many actual sins-But can they derive much encouragement from the words of our text?-O that they did but credit the declarations of our Lord!-Shall they, who retain only one bosom lust, be in danger of "hell-fire," and they be safe who live in the allowed commission of many sins?Have they no reason to dread the worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched?-Shall they set up their idols in their heart, and God not answer them according to the multitude of their idols? Would to God that we could weep over such poor deluded creatures; that "our head were waters, and our eyes a fountain of tears to run down for them day and night!"-May God give them just views of the eternal word! And may they be so persuaded by these terrors of the Lord, as to flee immediately from the wrath to come, and to lay hold on eternal life!-]

2. What need have the professors of religion to watch over their own hearts!

[It is no easy thing to know whether we be freed from our besetting sin-We have many pleas to urge in extenuation of its guilt, and many specious names whereby to conceal its malignity-How were even the disciples themselves led captive by ambition and revenge, when they were least aware of their subjection to such evil principles! Thus it may be with us also-How then should we search and try our hearts to find out our besetting sins!—And how should we cry to God," Search me, O God, and try the ground of my heart, &c.!"Let all then who name the name of Christ be jealous of themselves-And "laying aside every weight, and the sin that doth most easily beset them, let them run their race with patience"-]

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3. What reason have we to be thankful for the covenant of grace!

[Whatsoever God requires of us, he has also promised to us in the covenant of grace-Has he commanded us to part with every sin, however precious or profitable it may be? He has also promised, that "sin shall not have dominion over us."k-He has pledged his word not only to forgive the sins

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of the penitent, but to "cleanse them from all unrighteousness"Let those then who tremble at the injunctions in the text, look up to Jesus for help-Let them plead the promises which he has made-And doubtless they shall find his “ grace sufficient for them"_" They shall do all things through Christ strengthening them" This is the portion of all who embrace that covenant, which "is ordered in all things and sure”m, Let every believer then rejoice in that covenant; and "hold ast the beginning of his confidence stedfast unto the end”—]

1.1 John i. ix.

m 2.Sam. xxiii. 5.

CCXLVII. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.

Matt. xviii. 32-35. Then his lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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MEN in general think themselves sufficiently instructed in morality

But, for the most part, their views of it are very partial and defective

The duty of forgiving injuries is universally acknowleged

But few are aware to what an extent it is required of t. hem

Peter, though a good man, needed must instruction n this head

He thought the limits he assigned to this principle were enerous and ample

But our Lord rectified his judgment by an explicit delaration

And pointed out the grounds of his duty in an instruce parable

From the words before us we are led to consider the rt, the reasonableness and the necessity of Christian iveness

I. The extent

[It does not forbid the execution of human laws, since magistrates are appointed of God on purpose, to enforce thema

Nor does it prohibit the just exercise of authority in parents

or masters

But it must extend to all offences, however numerous, however heniousb

And proceed from a heart wholly divested of malice or re

sentment

We need not indeed restore to our favour one who continues unworthy of it:

Or forbear to punish him while he continues to merit our displeasure

But we must pity the offender while we punish,, the

offence

And seek, in inflicting punishment, both his and the public good

We must feel towards him as an affectionate parent towards an offending childe_

We must feel disposed to pray for him, and to cover, rather than expose, his faults

And we must earnestly desire to behold in him such a disposition, as may open a way to perfect reconciliation with him-]

II. The reasonableness

1

Every man owes to God a debt that exceeds all calculation

Nor can the debt which any fellow-creature owes to us, bear any proportion to that which we owe to Gods—

Yet we all hope to obtain of God a free remission and forgiveness

Yea, provided we believe in Christ, our debt is already cancelled

Should not then a sense of mercy received, incline us to shew mercy?

Should we "take a fellow-servant by the throat," when the great Lord of all has spared us?

Should we rigorously exact a few pence, when we have received a remission of ten thousand talents?

It would be base indeed not to act towards an offending

a Rom. xiii. 4. b "Seventy times seven." e Próv. xxiv. 29. d Luke xvii. 3, 4. " from your hearts." f Prov. xxiv. 17. 18. Ten thousand talents amount to above four millions sterling; whereas an hundred pence are somewhat less than three guineas. Doddr: in loc.

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brother, as God has acted towards us, when we were enemies and rebels"]

III. The necessity

[There is an intimate connexion between the exercise of God's mercy to us, and ours to others

Though our forgiving of others cannot merit forgiveness from God, yet it will certainly be followed by it

On the other hand, an unmerciful disposition towards others will be the certain means of excluding us from God's favour— It will cut us off from the enjoyment of the mercy we seemed to have obtainedk

In uttering the Lord's prayer, we shall even seal our own condemnation'

Let us then, if we desire to find mercy in the day of judg ment, forgive others, as we hope to be forgiven"] Let us LEARN from hence,

1. How to obtain forgiveness for our own offences [We must not merely ask for patience in hopes of discharging our own debt

We must rather acknowledge our inability to pay one single mite

And implore at God's hands a free and complete forgiveness

We must not however conclude from the parable, that there is no need of the mediation of Christ

It is through HIM alone that we can derive any blessings from God

But we must ask for mercy as a gift, instead of attempting to make any compensation for our own iniquities-]

2. How to obtain a forgiving temper towards others

[If we know not what we ourselves merit at God's hands, we shall be ready to think much of any injuries which we receive from others

But if once we become sensible of the greatness of our debt to God, and of the obligations he has laid us under by the free offers of his mercy, we shall feel no difficulty in exercising forbearance and forgiveness

Resentment cannot long dwell in the bosom of one who has tasted redeeming love

The Jubilee commenced on the day of atonement, to shew that men are then especially bound to exercise mercy, when they them selves have received mercy. Lev xxv. 9.

Matt. vi. 14, 15. Jam. ii. 13.

The parable must not be understood to say, that Gorl revokes his mercy, when he has once really pardoned us. See Rom. xi. 29. Heb. viii. 12. Matt. vi. 12. m Col. iii. 12, 13.

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